Father arrested after 12-year-old daughter killed after first date

Father arrested after 12-year-old daughter killed after first date

PITTSBURGH (CNN) – A family is mourning the loss of a 12-year-old girl who was killed when her family’s vehicle rolled on top of her after her first date.

Now, her father is facing charges of driving under the influence.

The accident happened as she was getting ready to go home after her first date.

Stuffed animals are now at the spot where 12-year-old Shanera Harris was killed.

Tire marks can still be seen where the vehicle rolled and crashed into a tree.

Police say Shamera’s father, 43-year-old Richard Benton, had just picked her up from her very first date.

They had stopped at her date’s house to take pictures when the SUV started to roll down the hill as Shamera was getting out.

Sgt. Tom Huerbin, with the Pittsburgh Police Department, said, “Asked her to get out of the vehicle so she could take pictures. She got out, went behind the vehicle and that’s when it went out of gear and it went over top of her.”

Police say Shamera was dragged by the vehicle about 50 feet down the hill.

Investigators say her father smelled of alcohol, had glassy eyes, struggled to walk and refused to take any field sobriety tests.

Shamera’s mother said just before the SUV rolled out of control, she noticed Benton messing with gear shifts.

Sgt. Huerbin said, “From what we’re being told he thought the vehicle was in park but in fact, it was out of gear and it went on top of the female, dragging her down the hill and crashed into the yard.”